Tha Phae Gate

For the free travel in Chiang Mai + Chiang Rai Transportation: I rented a motorcycle in Chiang Mai, as I am a rider myself. Safety varies from person to person; if you can ride, it's fine. For those who can't ride or are just average, it's advisable to maintain balance! Some sections in Chiang Mai, like Nimman Road, are quite challenging due to heavy traffic and narrow roads. As for the Thai JC checkpoints, I didn't encounter any during my two-day rental, but I heard that if you're caught, a fine of 500 Thai Baht is sufficient and you can continue riding. There are plenty of car rentals on the streets of Chiang Mai, with fairly uniform prices. I rented near my hotel for convenience, at a price of 250 Thai Baht per day (24 hours means if you take it at 3 pm today, you return it at 3 pm the next day) with a deposit of 3000 Thai Baht (instant refund upon return). For Chiang Rai, I rented a car to drive myself. It took about 3 hours to get there, and a bit longer, around 3 hours and 30 minutes, on the way back because it was dark and I drove slower. The cost was 4500 Thai Baht (also for 24 hours), with a deposit of 5000 Thai Baht. Although Thailand has right-hand drive vehicles, which I was not very familiar with, I got used to it after driving around Chiang Mai city for a while and remembering the turns. There's no expressway from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, it's like a national highway in China. Thai drivers are quite disciplined and honestly, they have better driving etiquette than in China, so it's quite safe. Just be careful when driving at night on mountain roads, as they have sharper and steeper curves than ours. Accommodation: I recommend staying near Tha Phae Gate in Chiang Mai for convenience, as there are many 7-11s around. Finally, I visited some classic places. I understand that Chiang Mai, like our Lhasa, has many temples and is a holy Buddhist land, so I mostly visited temples to worship. I went to the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (which houses a relic of the Buddha), the Great Buddha Stupa, and in Chiang Rai, the White Temple, Blue Temple, and Black House.

If Bangkok has given me a dynamic city where day and night alternate, then Chiang Mai is about enjoying slow time with Buddha. There are more than 270 temples here, and as you walk through the city streets, you won't go far without seeing one. Most of them are free to enter, and inside, you'll find more devout Buddhists praying than tourists. The slowness of this city is evident in many places. I stayed in Chiang Mai for six days, and every day when I went out, there were cars, tuk-tuks, songthaews, and a lot of motorcycles on the road, but I never saw a traffic accident. When crossing pedestrian lanes, many without traffic lights, passing vehicles often voluntarily slow down and wait for you to cross. There's no speeding or road rage; people often wait quietly or simply yield. Chiang Mai's night markets are also a major part of the city, with the Chang Khlan Road night market being the most famous. The entire market is connected by several scattered but interconnected stall areas, with clothes, toys, souvenirs, and various food stalls spread out in each area. After six o'clock, it's usually packed with people of all skin colors from around the world. Smoking is not allowed in any of the stall areas, and if you're eating, you're expected to clean your table and dispose of your utensils in the trash after your meal, leaving a clean table for the next customer. I've never seen such a night market in any other city in my country. But the real highlight is the weekly Sunday night market, starting from Tha Phae Gate, it seems like the whole city pours in here. Many stalls from the usually crowded Chang Khlan Road night market also move here. Just walk around, and even thick legs will get slimmed down . Into the artsy vibe? I recommend visiting Nimman Road! Love ancient architecture? There's the Doi Suthep with its twin dragon temples, and Wat Chedi Luang! Bringing kids? You must visit the night safari or see the elephants! Or join me, let's go to the night market!

Tha Phae Gate is a landmark of Chiang Mai, built with red bricks, the walls are two to three meters high, serving as the welcoming entrance to the old city. There is a public square in front of the gate where celebrations are held during Chiang Mai festivals. I last visited Tha Phae Gate in 2017, and I can't remember if there were pigeons back then. Six years later, taking photos with pigeons against the backdrop of Tha Phae Gate has become a popular activity for tourists. For 100 Thai Baht, you get a service of four people: one to scatter pigeon feed, two to herd the pigeons, and one to take photos. The photographer is adept with a smartphone, finding the best angles and even shooting slow-motion videos. The final picture shows a clear difference between those who paid and those who didn't. The pigeons, struggling to earn their keep, don't have it easy. There are many temples near Tha Phae Gate, with exquisite temples and ancient pagodas everywhere, almost every few steps, each with its own characteristics. Chiang Mai truly deserves its title as the 'City of Temples', a bona fide Buddhist holy land. Every Sunday, the Tha Phae Gate hosts the Sunday night market, which is the largest and liveliest night market in Chiang Mai. Starting at 4 pm every Sunday, the main road from the east gate to the west gate of the old city is closed off for pedestrians. The Sunday market is a great place to hunt for souvenirs, with a wide variety and affordable prices. For example, elephant pants cost 100 Thai Baht at the Sunday market, but the price doubles to 200 Thai Baht at the night markets in Bangkok. A fellow traveler who likes to sell travel souvenirs from around the world at domestic markets stocked up quite a bit on this street. Besides the ubiquitous souvenirs, if you look carefully, you can find many good things. Thai craftsmen are skilled and creative. I bought a tuk-tuk made from a can as a gift for a child. The coconut shell lamp and wooden carvings I bought from this night market six years ago are still displayed as decorations in my home in Anaya, and I also bought a folk CD back then, which I still occasionally play. It's recommended to visit the Sunday market on an empty stomach, as the food area is filled with various Thai street food delicacies. Fried noodles, coconut juice, fruit juices, smoothies, mango sticky rice, grilled fish, grilled chicken, and more. If you get tired, you can also get an affordable roadside Thai massage and fully experience the nightlife of Chiang Mai. Summer of Thailand Never Ends Note: The market is open every Sunday from 17:00 to 22:00, starting from Tha Phae Gate, crossing the old city all the way to Wat Phan Tao.

💰 Currency Exchange (The best rates are at Mr. Pierre's shop in the old city! Alipay and WeChat are also about the same) 🏠 Stay at Ban Klang Doi Resort and Spa It's quieter and allows for a more authentic local experience 🚗 Bolt is half the price of Grab for taxis! Cash payment is fine 🏍️ Renting a motorcycle is actually the most comfortable 100🐽 per day, be aware that the traffic direction is the opposite of that in China (deposit a passport) Chiang Mai is a city well-suited for a slow-paced lifestyle and for lying flat It is also a gathering place for artistic youths Experience the city's cultural architecture Other attractions are quite scattered Places that are closer can be reached by motorcycle or taxi There are many unique features worth experiencing deeply ✨ I have allocated 5 days for Chiang Mai 💕Day1 elefin farm & cafe 10 minutes from our hotel, ride a motorcycle straight there in the afternoon! You can buy a basket of bananas for 100 to feed the elephants, and the staff can guide them for photos. The elephants are really cute and cooperative 💕Day2 Chiang Mai Old City One-Day Tour: Tha Phae Gate—Wat Phra Singh—Wat Chedi Luang—Wat Chiang Man 🧸 Feeding pigeons at Tha Phae Gate costs 100🐽 per person, it's like an assembly line operation, they help you take videos + photos, very beautiful! There's also feed for sale at 20🐽, you don't need to buy it if someone takes photos for you 🧸 Just choose one of the three temples in the old city to visit Wat Phra Singh (the most beautiful one for photos) Wat Chiang Man (in the evening, the setting sun shines on the grass! The blue sky, white clouds, and golden stupa reflect each other! Super beautiful) 🧸 The old city hides many treasure food shops worth tasting 🧸 Choose any spa that looks clean, about 300🐽 for a 60-90 minute experience 🧸 The old city's weekend night market is the largest in Chiang Mai, with several streets of food, clothes, souvenirs, and more! There are also bands playing, a dazzling array of super cool and spicy items 🧸 Any pure fruit shaved ice stall at the night market on the edge of the old city - the weather is super hot, at least four cups a day, 20-30🐽 each Day3 Wickerwork Street—Coconut Market 🧸 Chang Moi Kao Road (famous wickerwork street) The shop at the entrance of the road is the most popular, the owner is very nice and most reasonable bargains can be successful! 🧸 Coconut Market "Closed Monday to Friday!! Only open on weekends from 8:00-15:00 Day4 Tiger Kingdom 🧸 Transportation can be by self-driven motorcycle or taxi The three of us saw 3 tigers for 2100🐽, twin platinum and 2-year-old tigers You can bring your phone to take pictures inside, the staff will help you tease the tigers to look up, you can't touch the tiger's head, paws, but you can touch the belly, tail, and butt, the staff will ensure your safety (and they speak a little Chinese, easy to communicate) Day5 Chiang Mai University—Nimman Road 🧸 Nimman Road is more suitable for shopping, good for the last day It's very lively with many tourists! But the prices are generally high, it's recommended to compare prices at three different places before making a purchase!

“When we go to Chiang Mai, we must visit Tha Phae Gate.” Tha Phae Gate stands as the iconic symbol of Chiang Mai. Originally part of the ancient city of Wiang Chiang Mai, it was reconstructed in 1985 and remains the only gate retaining its original door panels. Its rich history and unique beauty make Tha Phae Gate a must-visit for people traveling to Chiang Mai. Tha Phae Gate is located at the heart of the city, offering convenient access to explore the surrounding area. There are plenty of restaurants and bars nearby, providing opportunities for dining and entertainment. Our visit to Tha Phae Gate was not only to admire its beauty but also to enjoy our evening at the nearby bars. Highly recommended for everyone visiting Chiang Mai. Don't miss Tha Phae Gate. #Chiangmai #historicallandmarks

When you come to Chiang Mai, you must come to Tha Pae Gate to experience the leisurely time. There are many 🕊 (Note: Don't go too early, there are no pigeons too early), you can drive pigeons to take big pictures for 100 Thai baht, come on Saturday and Sunday, you can also go to the market opposite to pottery your favorite handicrafts, very cheap, there are also many snacks, you can also enjoy a Thai massage!

The Tha Phae Gate is the only remaining relic of the ancient city of Chiang Mai and is also a landmark building of the city, located within the old city walls. It is the only wooden gate in Chiang Mai that has been preserved relatively intact and serves as the main entrance to the inner part of the ancient city. To this day, the gate has stood here for hundreds of years, making it one of the few ancient buildings that can witness the developmental history of the city. The ancient city was built in 1296, and at that time, Chiang Mai was said to be the capital city of the Lanna Kingdom in Northern Thailand. Chiang Mai was once extremely popular, with its majestic ancient city walls and the crystal-clear moat. Despite the passage of time, the one constant is the Tha Phae Gate. To the east of the Tha Phae Gate is a small square, which is the real destination that visitors aim to reach. The square is filled with pigeons that seem as though they have been trained. Although there are many pigeons, they never fly away from the square and are not afraid of people. If you have food in your hand, you will be surrounded by a flock of pigeons. As an important landmark of Chiang Mai, the Tha Phae Gate with its recognizable orange-red brick walls and the square filled with pigeons in front of it, has also become a popular spot for taking photos. Here, visitors can feed the pigeons, take photos as souvenirs, or sit by the city walls to watch the passersby and enjoy a leisurely time. Moreover, the Tha Phae Gate is not only the main starting point for strolling through the ancient city but also the starting point for many local events, such as the annual Chiang Mai Songkran Festival and Lantern Festival, where people gather here as the main venue. If you plan to travel to Chiang Mai, consider including the Tha Phae Gate in your itinerary to experience its unique charm.

Ten years have flown by, and I find myself back at Tha Phae Gate This is Chiang Mai's 🔥 hottest tourist spot No.1 ✅ Photo enthusiasts hurry over, this place is really photogenic 🤳 Deep red brick walls, fluttering flocks of pigeons 🐦 Full of artistic and fresh atmosphere 🌈 This is a free 🆓 attraction, there used to be no such thing as 'checking in', but now with the 📷 conveyor belt pigeon photos, it compensates for my past regret of not taking good pictures! ✅ This is the gateway to history, through the hurried years, it still stands, 🎉 festivals, weekend night markets are also held here, it is the only 1⃣️ well-preserved wooden gate in Chiang Mai, and the main passage into the old city. 📷 For good photos, it's recommended to come in the morning or evening, when we arrived it was nearly noon ☀️ and the overhead light was not very suitable for photography. To take a photo with the flying pigeons, it's recommended to use a lens with a large aperture, set the camera to continuous shooting mode, or use a wide-angle lens for large scenes. 🈶️ Local Thais are in charge of collecting money, feeding, making the pigeons fly to a reasonable position, taking photos, and shooting videos, a streamlined operation for 100 Thai Baht 💰 ✌️ Photo pose recommendations: slowly walk like a fairy, happily spin and jump with eyes closed, run forward hand in hand (suitable for friends and couples) remember to hold your expression while doing the pose!